Clive Betts

Great British Energy – Nuclear (GBE-N) has selected Rolls Royce SMR as its preferred bidder to partner with to deploy the UK's first SMRs, subject to final government approvals and contract signature.

Further details will follow in due course, but the government's long-term ambition is to bring forward one of Europe's first SMR fleets, with GBE-N's ambition being to deliver over 70% UK content across the fleet.

Great British Energy – Nuclear (GBE-N) has selected Rolls Royce SMR as its preferred bidder to partner with to deploy the UK's first SMRs, subject to final government approvals and contract signature.

Further details will follow in due course, but the government's long-term ambition is to bring forward one of Europe's first SMR fleets, with GBE-N's ambition being to deliver over 70% UK content across the fleet.

Great British Energy – Nuclear (GBE-N) has selected Rolls Royce SMR as its preferred bidder to partner with to deploy the UK's first SMRs, subject to final government approvals and contract signature.

Further details will follow in due course, but the government's long-term ambition is to bring forward one of Europe's first SMR fleets, with GBE-N's ambition being to deliver over 70% UK content across the fleet.

As the UK enters the new golden age of nuclear, the government will accelerate the growth of a robust and secure sector, collaborating across the supply chain to mitigate barriers to entry, develop policies that maximise domestic opportunities, and support access to international markets to drive exports.

Following a robust, two-year procurement process, Great British Energy – Nuclear (GBE-N) has selected Rolls Royce SMR as its preferred bidder to partner with to build the UK’s first small modular reactors, subject to final government approvals and contract signature. It is expected that an SMR project could support up to 3,000 skilled jobs.

As the first step towards the Warm Homes Plan, the Government has committed an initial £3.4 billion over the next 3 years towards heat decarbonisation and household energy efficiency, with £1bn of this allocated to next year. Additional funding will be considered in Phase 2 of the Spending Review, as the Warm Homes Plan is further developed.

The £3.4 billion includes £1.8 billion to support fuel poverty schemes, helping over 225,000 households reduce their energy bills by over £200. In addition, the Government recently announced Wave 3 of the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund in England, which will replace the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund to support social housing providers and tenants, with delivery expected in 2025. We have also announced a new Warm Homes: Local Grant to help low-income homeowners and private tenants in England with energy performance upgrades and cleaner heating.

The licensing of the operation of the professional basketball league is a matter for the British Basketball Federation (British Basketball), the National Governing Body responsible for basketball in Great Britain. The licensing of the operation of the professional basketball league is an ongoing commercial matter for the British Basketball Federation.

The revised Code for Sports Governance sets out the levels of transparency, diversity and inclusion, accountability and integrity that are required from sporting governing bodies, including the British Basketball Federation, in receipt of DCMS and National Lottery funding from UK Sport and/or Sport England (DCMS’ arm’s length bodies). Performance against those factors is kept under review.

UK Sport has invested £385 million of Exchequer and Lottery funding to support our Olympic and Paralympic athletes over the Paris cycle. More detail of awards is set out here www.uksport.gov.uk/our-work/investing-in-sport/current-funding-awards.

We are fully committed to multi-year funding for our elite sport system and enabling our athletes to excel on the world stage. This means supporting them financially to match and build on their success in Paris, helping them to deliver at LA 2028.

We will set out further details at the Spending Review.

All our schools are crucial partners in breaking down the barriers to opportunities for children and young people so they all receive a brilliant education which sets them up to achieve and thrive.

Academies are directly accountable to my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education. In the event that academies and their trusts are not meeting the required standards, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education has powers to intervene. In the event that a local authority or mayor has concerns about the performance of an academy or trust in their area they can raise these with the department.

Maintained schools are accountable to their local authority, which also has powers to intervene where schools are seriously underperforming.

The Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, introduced on 17 December 2024, contains proposals to extend certain powers of local authorities. They include powers relating to the admission of children to maintained schools and academies, to the range of bodies which can propose the opening of a new school and to the setting of a school’s published admission number.

The department believes that further education has a crucial part to play in ensuring we have the skills needed for sustainable economic growth. That is why the government will continue to build an education system that prepares our students for life, work, and the future. All young people should have access to high quality education and training that meets their needs and provides them with opportunities to thrive.

The department recognises that mayors have a key role to play in ensuring that education and training pathways for young people provide clear routes into further education or employment. While the department remains committed to the principle of a national education system for those in compulsory education, including that every learner must have a wide range of choices in 16-19 study, the English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024, sets out areas for further devolution including on skills. Mayors will in future be jointly responsible for local skills improvement plans and have a key role developing the Youth Guarantee to ensure all young people under age 21 are earning or learning.

The department is working across government and in partnership with industry, including through the Construction Skills Delivery Group (CSDG), to ensure that our skills offer meets the needs of the sector.

This includes transforming the Apprenticeship Levy into a new Growth and Skills Levy. The new levy will build on the apprenticeships programme to create opportunities for learners of all ages, and give employers of different sizes greater flexibility to address critical skill shortages in their workforces and drive economic growth.

The department will set out more detail in due course, including further information on the role of Skills England in ensuring that levy-funded training delivers value for money and meets the needs of businesses.

As is the case with any new policy, we are collecting information and evidence about the implementation of mandatory biodiversity net gain, including for small sites. The Government is committed to working closely with the sector to make Biodiversity Net Gain work effectively and implement solutions to unlock new homes without weakening environmental protections.

As is the case with any new policy, we are collecting information and evidence about the implementation of mandatory biodiversity net gain, including for small sites. Government is committed to working closely with the sector to make Biodiversity Net Gain work effectively and implement solutions to unlock new homes without weakening environmental protections.

Unfortunately, the information requested can only be provided at disproportionate cost as the department does not hold this information.

For maintenance activities, National Highways operates long-term Maintenance & Response (M&R) contracts, typically spanning 8–15 years. These contracts handle tens of thousands of interventions across the Strategic Road Network annually. Currently, there are 10 M&R contracts, each covering approximately the same road network length as 10 years ago. However, on average, the contract durations have slightly increased compared to their previous iterations. To minimise the impact on customers, National Highways ensures that individual maintenance activities are carefully planned, with most works conducted overnight and designed to have minimal disruption.

For maintenance activities, National Highways operates long-term Maintenance & Response (M&R) contracts, typically spanning 8–15 years. These contracts handle tens of thousands of interventions across the Strategic Road Network annually. Currently, there are 10 M&R contracts, each covering approximately the same road network length as 10 years ago. However, on average, the contract durations have slightly increased compared to their previous iterations. To minimise the impact on customers, National Highways ensures that individual maintenance activities are carefully planned, with most works conducted overnight and designed to have minimal disruption.

The law on the use of e-cycles and e-scooters is clear. E-cycles can legally be used in the same way as a regular pedal cycle providing the user is aged 14 or over, and providing the cycle meets in full the requirements set out in the Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle Regulations 1983 (as amended). There is ample guidance on gov.uk on this matter. In short, the requirements state that the cycle must be fitted with pedals that can propel it; must have a maximum continuous rated power output of no greater than 250 Watts; and that the motor must stop providing assistance at 15.5 miles per hour. Any electric cycle that does not meet the EAPC regulations is classed as a motorcycle or moped and needs to be approved, registered, insured, and taxed as a motor vehicle; and riders will also need an appropriate driving licence to ride one and must wear an approved motorcycle safety helmet.

It is currently illegal to use private e-scooters on public roads, cycle lanes and pavements, and rental e-scooters can only be used as part of the Government’s rental e-scooter trials. The Government recognises the need to address public concern about the regulation of e-scooters and is considering next steps. It will consult on any new proposed regulations before they come into force.

Enforcement of the rules for e-cycles and e-scooters is a matter for the police.

There are currently no other tram-train examples in England. The Department is currently working with Greater Manchester Combined Authority as they develop their business case for their “Pathfinder” project in the North East Quadrant of Greater Manchester, where tram-train is being considered as a potential technology option.

In addition, the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) is considering the expansion of the Sheffield Supertram, which might include tram-train, and the Department is working closely with SYMCA as they continue to develop those plans.

Subject to Parliamentary approval, the proposed reforms will take effect only at the point of a claimant’s next scheduled award review after November 2026.

In parallel, we have launched a comprehensive review of the PIP assessment process, which I shall lead. The review aims to ensure the assessment remains fit for the future and continues to support those with the greatest needs. We are currently in the first phase of this work, engaging with disabled people, representative organisations, and other stakeholders to shape the scope, timings, and approach of the review. The Terms of Reference will be published once this initial engagement is complete.

We envisage the Review as the vehicle for any changes to be made to the assessment.

Through the review of the PIP assessment, we want to make sure that the PIP assessment is fit for the future. We have now begun the first phase of this review, during which I am speaking to stakeholders to gather views on how best to approach the review.

We will work closely with disabled people, the organisations that support them and other experts, to ensure that the voices of those who go through the PIP assessment and those with expertise in the system are embedded in the review.

We are committed to listening to and learning from people with a range of expertise and experience. As part of the review process, we will be engaging extensively with a variety of stakeholders to input and shape the direction of the review.

The Health Transformation Programme is transforming the entire Personal Independence Payment service, from finding out about benefits through to decisions, eligibility, and payments. It will modernise the service to improve efficiency and customer experience. This includes introducing new options to apply online, improving how we gather health information, and tailoring the process to the customer’s needs and circumstances.

We announced in the Pathways to Work Green Paper that we will, in future, record assessments by default, unless the claimant asks that the assessment should not be recorded. This will give us the means to check what happened when an assessment is found later to have been incorrect, and, we expect, an effective lever for improvement

We have also launched a review of the PIP assessment, which I am leading. Through the review, we want to make sure the PIP assessment is fit for the future. We have now begun the first phase of this work which includes speaking to stakeholders to gather views on how best to approach the review.

As announced in the Get Britain Working White Paper, the Department for Work and Pensions will devolve funding for Connect to Work via grants to Strategic Authorities (including unitaries with a devolution agreement), and other agreed local authority clusters across the rest of England. This funding, in addition to the local Get Britain Working plans these areas will produce, will enable them to design and deliver an offer that is shaped around local priorities and provision. For Established Mayoral Strategic Authorities, Connect to Work funding forms part of their Integrated Settlement.

All Mayoral Strategic Authorities will have a role in co-designing any future non-Jobcentre Plus employment support. Their subsequent role in commissioning or delivery will be determined as part of agreeing the policy objectives, design and funding parameters of any future programme. Established Mayoral Strategic Authorities will play an integral role in the design and delivery of this support, subject to evaluation and readiness conditions being met, with a clear outcomes and accountability framework.

The Department for Education already devolves the Adult Skills Fund to all Strategic Authorities, including Mayoral ones.

Full details of the governments employment and skills devolution commitments are set out within the recently published English Devolution White Paper: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/english-devolution-white-paper-power-and-partnership-foundations-for-growth/english-devolution-white-paper

As part of the necessary changes to support the National Health Service to recover, NHS England has indicated that integrated care boards (ICBs) should reduce in size. The Government is supportive of NHS England’s decision and will work with NHS England to make the necessary choices that are needed to get the NHS back on its feet. We expect ICBs to continue to deliver their responsibilities, including the planning and delivery of health and care services. Ministers will work with the new transformation team at the top of NHS England, led by Sir Jim Mackey, to ensure that the expected hundreds of millions of pounds savings made will be reinvested into frontline services to deliver better care for patients.

Further detail on the future of ICBs was provided in a letter issued to all ICBs and NHS trusts and foundation trusts on 1 April 2025. This letter is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/working-together-in-2025-26-to-lay-the-foundations-for-reform/

Places are crucial for supporting the delivery of neighbourhood health, the three shifts, and the Health Mission. The Government continues to see place as a vital commissioning footprint within integrated care systems. Further details on this will be set out in the 10-Year Health Plan.

We will confirm 2025/26 local authority public health funding at the earliest opportunity, and will confirm future years’ funding following the upcoming Spending Review next spring.

The Autumn Budget sets out the Government’s commitment to strengthen the United Kingdom’s pandemic preparedness and health protection with £460 million of investment.

We are committed to training the staff we need, including radiologists and oncologists, to ensure patients are cared for by the right professional, when and where they need it.

We will ensure that the number of medical specialty training places meets the demands of the National Health Service in the future. NHS England will work with stakeholders to ensure that any growth is sustainable and focused in the service areas where need is greatest.

The UK is concerned by the Israel Defense Forces' (IDF) ongoing military operation in the occupied West Bank. We recognise Israel's need to defend itself against security threats, but we are very worried by the methods Israel has employed and by reports of civilian casualties and the destruction of civilian infrastructure. We continue to call on Israeli authorities to exercise restraint, adhere to international law, and clamp down on the actions of those who seek to inflame tensions.

The data required to answer this question is not held centrally by HM Treasury, but some of the relevant data may be held by individual Public Service Pension Schemes (PSPSs). While the cessation of survivor pensions upon remarriage or cohabitation was a common feature across older legacy PSPSs, all active members of major PSPSs are now accruing pensions in reformed schemes that do not cease survivor pensions in the case of remarriage or cohabitation.

The Home Office reintroduced exit checks in April 2015. Working with carriers, exit checks routinely provide us with vital information that confirm a person’s exit from the UK. Details are set out at this link: Exit checks fact sheet - GOV.UK.

We will certainly engage with knife manufacturers and distributors as part of these considerations.

Tackling anti-social behaviour is a top priority for this Government, and a key part of our Safer Streets Mission.

On 27 November 2024, the Government announced proposals to give the police greater powers to clamp down on e-bikes, e-scooters and other vehicles involved in anti-social behaviour, with officers no longer required to issue a warning before seizing vehicles.

This will allow the police to quickly remove anti-social vehicles which are creating a nuisance or disturbance in city centres and pedestrian areas. These powers will be included in the forthcoming Crime and Policing Bill.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 39537, tabled on 19 March 2025.

The National Planning Policy Framework sets clear expectations on when development should comply with the Golden Rules.

Ahead of further updates, the relevant planning practice guidance on viability also makes clear that, where development takes place on land situated in, or released from, the Green Belt and is subject to the Golden Rules, site-specific viability assessment should not be undertaken or taken into account for the purpose of reducing developer contributions, including affordable housing and appropriate infrastructure.

As set out in the Framework and supporting guidance, local authorities should, where appropriate, consider the use of conditions or planning obligations. Authorities may take enforcement action against the breach of planning obligations contained in a section 106 agreement. Through our wider reforms to planning fees, including the relevant provisions in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, local planning authorities will be better resourced to deliver their responsibilities, including enforcement activities where relevant.

The government have implemented a new mandatory standard method for assessing housing needs which aligns with our ambition to build 1.5 million new homes in this Parliament.

Delivering on that ambitious milestone requires local planning authorities to plan for sufficient homes, as well as commercial development and wider infrastructure, through local development plans.

Unitary authorities are local planning authorities for their area and therefore will need to take account of the standard method when updating their local plans.

Mayoral combined authorities (MCAs) are not local planning authorities. However, some MCAs currently have a duty to produce Spatial Development Strategies (SDS), which is a form of strategic level plan.

Further, through our English Devolution White Paper published on 16 December 2024 we were clear that in future, SDSs will be produced for all of England, and where there are MCAs, they will produce the SDS.

Therefore, MCAs will use the new standard method when producing their SDSs, which will set the housing requirement for each local planning authority within its area. Local Plans will then have to be in general conformity with the relevant SDS.

As set out in the English Devolution White Paper, councils need to be empowered to take the right decisions to drive growth and improve services. This is an ongoing process but among our immediate steps to end micromanagement is working with the sector to review requirements for local authorities to seek Secretaries’ of State consents for the use of their powers and removing these requirements unless absolutely necessary. This will apply to all local authorities as we receive proposals from all two-tier areas for reorganisation, as set out in the White Paper.

The English Devolution White Paper has provided powers for local leaders to deliver for their places and support economic growth. The government keeps all taxes under review.